NIFTY Pro is a non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) that analyzes fetal DNA for trisomies and common genetic abnormalities.
NIFTY Pro is a non-invasive prenatal genetic screening test that analyzes free circulating fetal DNA in maternal blood. The test is done from a sample of maternal blood and can be performed starting from week 10 of pregnancy. Its goal is to assess the risk for certain fetal chromosomal abnormalities, without resorting to an invasive procedure such as amniocentesis or chorial villi biopsy.
The test can be considered when you want an early non-invasive prenatal screening, when there is a higher maternal age, an altered result on other prenatal screening tests, anxiety related to fetal genetic risk, or when your doctor recommends an additional chromosomal risk assessment. NIPT tests, including NIFTY, are screening tests and do not establish a diagnosis of certainty on their own.
Counseling on Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening
Recommendation of the test according to the obstetric context
Maternal blood sample collection
Interpretation of the result in a clinical context
Medical guidance for the next steps, when needed
NIFTY Pro belongs to the category of NIPT tests, i.e. non-invasive prenatal tests that use free-circulating fetal DNA to estimate the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. In its expanded form, NIFTY Pro includes screening for frequent trisomies and can also cover other chromosomal numerical abnormalities, respectively, an extensive number of microdeletion and microduplication syndromes, depending on the panel and test form used by the laboratory.
It is important to understand that such a test does not make a diagnosis on its own. A high-risk outcome usually requires confirmation by an invasive method of prenatal diagnosis, such as amniocentesis or chorial-villi biopsy. This is a valid principle for NIPT tests in general.
For an informed decision, it is important to follow a few essential steps:
Let's understand the difference between screening and diagnosis.
Let's evaluate, together with the specialist doctor, the history of pregnancy and risk factors.
Let's choose the right test according to the medical recommendation and the desired information.
Let's interpret the result in a clinical context, not in isolation.
Let's determine the next steps depending on the result and the doctor's recommendation.
1.NIFTY Pro is an early prenatal screening option, available from 10 weeks of pregnancy. The collection is done from maternal blood, which makes it a non-invasive method without the risk of miscarriage associated with invasive prenatal diagnostic procedures.
2.Depending on the test variant available, NIFTY Pro may include screening for trisomies 21, 18 and 13, sex chromosome aneuploidies and, in some panels, other chromosomal numerical abnormalities or microdeletion and microduplication syndromes. The exact number of conditions included may vary depending on the laboratory and the commercial version used.
3.The test result should always be interpreted together with the doctor. A low-risk result does not exclude absolutely all genetic diseases or fetal malformations, and a high-risk result does not alone confirm the existence of an abnormality. That is precisely why the result must be correlated with ultrasound, obstetric history and, if necessary, further investigation.
4.General recommendations for patients interested in NIFTY Pro include:
taking the test at the time recommended by the doctor,
understanding the boundaries of a screening test,
correlation of the result with ultrasound assessment,
seeking medical advice for the interpretation of the result,
conducting confirmatory tests when the doctor recommends them.
In prenatal practice, NIPT tests are useful for refining risk, but do not completely replace obstetric monitoring and pregnancy ultrasounds.
5. When do we have the problem of performing the NIFTY Pro test?
When we want early non-invasive prenatal screening, when there are risk factors for chromosomal abnormalities, when classical screening tests raise question marks, or when the doctor considers additional fetal genetic risk assessment useful. The test can provide early and valuable information, but must be integrated into a complete prenatal evaluation.
At CMIB, we help you understand your prenatal screening options correctly and choose the right investigation for your pregnancy. Schedule a consultation and find out if the NIFTY Pro test is recommended for you.
Yes. Being carried out from maternal blood, it is a non-invasive investigation and does not involve the procedural risk associated with invasive tests such as amniocentesis.
Depending on the panel used, NIFTY Pro can assess the risk for trisomies 21, 18 and 13, sex chromosome aneuploidies and, in some extended variants, other chromosomal numerical abnormalities and microdeletion or microduplication syndromes. The exact panel may vary depending on the laboratory.
No. A low-risk result reduces the likelihood of certain abnormalities included in the test, but does not exclude all genetic diseases, all malformations, or all pregnancy complications.
No. NIFTY Pro does not replace ultrasounds and obstetric monitoring. He complements the prenatal evaluation, but does not replace the fetal ultrasound examination.
